"Unfortunately after one or two bad performances we start thinking that a certain player does not deserve a place in the team," Hafeez said.

Sami and Shehzad were impressive in the recent Bangladesh Premier League, while Malik led Sialkot Stallions to victory in the domestic Pakistan Twenty20 competition. Latif has also scored consistently in tournaments at home in the past two years.

Pakistan also scheduled to play two Twenty20 games against Australia after the tour of Sri Lanka before competing in the World Twenty20 in September, also in Sri Lanka.

Hafeez believes five matches are enough for the selectors to judge the performances of the players before picking the squad for the World Twenty20.

"I don't want make any predictions because there's a chance for everyone to do well," Hafeez said of the World Twenty20 squad.

Pakistan received a minor setback when Hafeez's opening partner, Nasir Jamshed, was ruled out of the series against Sri Lanka on Wednesday because of a fractured finger.

Both batsmen had given their team several solid opening stands in the Asia Cup.

"I think he (Jamshed) was in very good form in the Asia Cup," Hafeez said. "I hope he recovers quickly."